Planta Med 2009; 75 - PG58
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234712

Seed germination of medicinal plants as affected by salinity stress

M Yadegari 1, HA Rahmani 2, R Barzegar 3
  • 1Faculty of agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran
  • 2Soil Biology Laboratory, Soil and Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
  • 3Faculty of agriculture, University of Rasht, Guilan, Iran

Salinity stress is a major limiting factor which influences agricultural production worldwide. An in vitro assay was conducted to compare the response of twelve medicinal plants to salinity stress. Plantago sp., Alyssum sp., Portulaca oleracea, Sesamum indicum, Origanum majorana , Trigonella foenum, Anethum graveolens, Melilotus officinalis, Trachyspermum ammi, Cuminum cyminum, Lactuca sativa and Lallemantia royleana were used in this study. One-hundred seeds of each species were grown in one petri dish and different concentrations of sodium chloride were applied to the seeds as levels of salinity stress. There was a great difference between species in their tolerance to salinity stress. Elevating concentrations of NaCl resulted in a significant decline of seed germination rate and plant biomass. Species Portulaca oleracea, Alyssum sp. and Trigonella foenum were tolerant to 450 mM/L of sodium chloride.

References: [1] Singer, A.C. et al. (2007) Environ. Pollut. 147:74–82.

[2] Ashraf, M. (2002) Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 21:1–30.

[3] Barassi, C.A. et al. (2006) Sci. Hort.109:8–14.